Quotes From "I Capture The Castle" By Dodie Smith

Just to be in love seemed the most blissful luxury I had ever known. The thought came to me that perhaps it is the loving that counts, not the being loved in return - that perhaps true loving can never know anything but true happiness. Dodie Smith

Perhaps if I make myself write I shall find out what is wrong with me. Dodie Smith

Certain unique books seem to be without forerunners or successors as far as their authors are concerned. Even though they may profoundly influence the work of other writers, for their creator they're complete, not leading anywhere. Dodie Smith

He stood staring into the wood for a minute, then said: "What is it about the English countryside – why is the beauty so much more than visual? Why does it touch one so?" He sounded faintly sad. Perhaps he finds beauty saddening – I do myself sometimes. Once when I was quite little I asked father why this was and he explained that it was due to our knowledge of beauty's evanescence, which reminds us that we ourselves shall die. Then he said I was probably too young to understand him; but I understood perfectly. . Dodie Smith

...he talked quite naturally while we ate – about the difficulty of finding words to describe the luminous mist, and why one has the desire to describe beauty." Perhaps it's an attempt to possess it, " I said." Or be possessed by it; perhaps that's the same thing, really. I suppose it's the complete identification with beauty one's seeking." The mist grew brighter and brighter. Dodie Smith

In addition, I think religion has a chance of a look-in whenever the mind craves solace in music or poetry-- in any form of art at all. Personally, I think it is an art, the greatest one; an extension of the communication all the other arts attempt. Dodie Smith

When I read a book, I put in all the imagination I can, so that it is almost like writing the book as well as reading it - or rather, it is like living it. It makes reading so much more exciting, but I don't suppose many people try to do it. Dodie Smith

And no bathroom on earth will make up for marrying a bearded man you hate. Dodie Smith

But some characters in books are really real-- Jane Austen's are; and I know those five Bennets at the opening of Pride and Prejudice, simply waiting to raven the young men at Netherfield Park, are not giving one thought to the real facts of marriage. Dodie Smith

There is something revolting about the way girls' minds so often jump to marriage long before they jump to love. Dodie Smith

Am I really admitting that my sister is determined to marry a man she has only seen once and doesn't much like the look of? It is half real and half pretense - and I have an idea that it is a game most girls play when they meet an eligible young men. They just...wonder. Dodie Smith

... there is something revolting about the way girls' minds so often jump to marriage long before they jump to love. And most of those minds are shut to what marriage really means. Dodie Smith

It isn't a bit of use my pretending I'm not crying, because I am... Pause to mop up. Better now. Perhaps it would really be rather dull to be married and settled for life. Liar! It would be heaven. Dodie Smith

I wonder if there isn't a catch about having plenty of money? Does it eventually take the pleasure out of things? Dodie Smith

I could marry the Devil himself if he had some money. Dodie Smith

Even a broken heart doesn't warrant a waste of good paper. Dodie Smith

Cruel blows of fate call for extreme kindness in the family circle. Dodie Smith

...I could never explain how the image and the reality merge, and how they somehow extend and beautify each other. Dodie Smith

I go backwards and forwards, recapturing the past, wondering about the future–and, most unreasonably, I find myself longing for the past more than for the future. Dodie Smith

Did you think of anything when Miss Marcy said Scoatney Hall was being re-opened? I thought of the beginning of Pride and Prejudice — where Mrs. Bennet says 'Netherfield Park is let a last.' And then Mr. Bennet goes over to call on the rich new owner. Dodie Smith

I am surprised to see how much I have written; with stories even a page can take me hours, but the truth seems to flow out as fast as I can get it down. But words are very inadequate — anyway, my words are. Dodie Smith

Noble deeds and hot baths are the best cures for depression. Dodie Smith

Prayer's a very tricky business. Dodie Smith

A mist is rolling over the fields. Why is a summer mist romantic and autumn mist just sad? Dodie Smith

Now, paper and pencils, " said Miss Marcy, clapping her hands. Writing paper is scarce in this house, and I had no intention of tearing sheets out of this exercise book, which is a superb sixpenny one the Vicar gave me. In the end, Miss Marcy took the middle pages out of her library record, which gave us a pleasant feeling that we were stealing from the government, and then we sat round the table and elected her chairman. Dodie Smith

I didn't make any mistake. I know that when he nearly asked me to marry him it was only on impulse It is part if a follow-my-leader game of second-best we have all been playing - Rose with Simon, Simon with me, me with Stephen and Stephen, I suppose, with that detestable Leda Fox-Cotton. It isn't a very good game; the people you play it with are apt to get hurt. Dodie Smith

The thought came to me that perhaps it is the loving that counts, not the being loved in return - that perhaps true loving can never know anything but happiness. Dodie Smith

Then I told myself that as I never gave the Church a thought when I was feeling happy, I could hardly expect it to do anything for me when I wasn't. You can't get insurance money without paying in premiums. Dodie Smith

Of course, he sees creation as discovery. I mean, everything is already created, by the first cause---call it God if you like; everything is already there to be found. Dodie Smith

I couldn't make it out - why you ever let me, I mean. I understand now. Things like that happen when you're in love with the wrong person. Worse things. Things you never forgive yourself for. Dodie Smith

We were restless for ages... After a while I heard an owl hooting and calmed myself by thinking of it flying over the dark fields — and then I remembered it would be pouncing on mice. I love owls, but I wish God had made them vegetarian. Dodie Smith

It is rather exciting to write by moonlight. Dodie Smith

I have really sinned. I am going to pause now, and sit here on the mound repenting in deepest shame... Dodie Smith

The Devil's out of fashion. Dodie Smith

Father says hot water can be as stimulating as an alcoholic drink and though I never come by one... I can well believe it. Dodie Smith

He laughed a little, in an odd, nervous kind of way. "Because if I don't get going soon, the whole impetus may die--and if that happens, well, I really shall consider a long, restful plunge into insanity. Sometimes the abyss yawns very attractively. Dodie Smith

...[I]f I don't get going soon, the whole impetus may die---and if that happens, well, I really shall consider a long, restful plunge into insanity. Sometimes the abyss yawns very attractively. Dodie Smith

Stew's so comforting on a rainy day. Dodie Smith

Everything in the least connected with him has value for me; if someone even mentions his name it is like a little present to me--and I long to mention it myself, I start subjects leading up to it, and then feel myself going red. I keep swearing to myself not to speak of him again- and then an opportunity occurs and I jump at it. Dodie Smith

Once I really looked at the sky, I wanted to go on looking; it seemed to draw me towards it and make me listen hard, though there was nothing to listen to, not so much as a twig was stirring. Dodie Smith

I wanted so terribly to be good to him. Dodie Smith